Over the past week or so we have learned how small the world really is, haven’t we? A look outside reminds us that Canada is our neighbor, seemingly much closer than we thought. And if you can’t see it because your windows are as dirty as mine, a step outside will confirm for you that Canada is within arm’s reach, or nose’s sniff. Smoky, acrid smelling air has dropped down out of Canada replacing our fresh, clear, sweet mountain air with burn the eyes, nose and throat bitter air. How does this happen?
“They” say there are about 800 (yes, 800) wildfires currently burning in the boreal forests of Canada. These fires have resulted in a very dense plume of smoke dropping down and drifting into the Mid-Atlantic region hitting parts of where we live. I’m no person who know geoscientist, but it is my understanding that part of this plume became lodged against part of the Appalachian Mountains. This banking resulted in parts of the plume hanging in our region for nearly a week. It is quite an eerie site to see and smell.
As I was walking my dog last Thursday morning, while wearing a mask, I couldn’t help but think a little about hell. We don’t know what hell will be like exactly, but the Bible does give us enough information for me to know that’s not where I want to spend my forever.
To date, approximately 6.9 million acres have burned of Canada’s 1.3 billion acres of boreal forest. In the grand scheme of numbers, 6.9 million of 1.3 billion does not seem like a lot, and it is not, about 5%. Although any amount of forestry lost is a lot. What really struck me as I was walking though was how far reaching something can be that is happening so far away and more-so, the sweeping impact of it. And there is maybe no greater sweeping impact that is made, that floats through the air, and banks against our lives than that of sin.
Looking out through the fields on that smoky day I was struck by how the smoke from fires anywhere from 500-1,500 miles away was touching, floating, visible, and permeating our eyes and our lungs causing our lives to be altered. The same is true with sin. Just like the smoke from the fires, a seemingly little sin goes a long way.
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?
1 Corinthians 5:6
Paul was teaching here about moral sin. The “this sin” that he was talking about here specifically was sexual immorality, (which is sex outside of marriage and the Bible defines marriage as between a man and a woman), but sin is sin. Whether it is lying, gossiping, anger, stealing, murder, idolatry, or another one, a little leaven goes a long way.
Sin and the affects of it are like the plume dropping down, saturating us with stink. Just like smoke that fills every nook and cranny, that can be seen, smelled and experienced, sin is the same, touching everything, our families, our friends, our homes, our jobs, our coworkers, our church, Causing us not to be able to see clearly and causing us to stink.
Sin never hurts just the sinner, it is widespread wafting through the air and impacting everything we do. The ripple effects of sin are devastating and can shake us for years. Whether the perpetrator of sin or the victim of sin, there are two promises that ring out loud and exceedingly clear in God’s Word.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, no matter what they be, He will forgive and purify, cleanse and remove the stench. A wind from the four corners will enter our bodies, a fresh clear plume, and we will begin to breathe again, we will be brought back to life.